Events around Roopt Matsumoto Chuo

This festival brings together soba producers from all over Japan to Matsumoto Castle Park, where you can compare different types of handmade soba.

Not only Shinshu soba, but soba from various regions will be available. Since it's an outdoor event with a view of the castle, it is weather-dependent.

You can watch an artillery unit in armor fire matchlock guns against the backdrop of National Treasure Matsumoto Castle. The power of the roar and white smoke is conveyed even without understanding the language.

The sound is very loud, so families with small children should watch from a slightly more distant spot. Canceled on rainy days.

This is a night festival where Matsumoto Castle in winter is entirely decorated with light and ice. Centered around projection mapping on the National Treasure castle tower, the entire castle town area, including Daimyo-machi Street and Chitose Bridge, is illuminated. Admission is free, and it's a highlight of winter that you can walk to from the accommodation for an evening stroll.

During the festival period (usually a weekend in late January), the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival" is also held, where works by ice sculptors from all over Japan and a giant ice slide line Matsumoto Castle Park. The schedule for the 2026-27 season will be confirmed on the official website closer to the date, so please check before your visit.

Matsumoto Castle during the first three days of the New Year. You can visit the National Treasure castle tower at the beginning of the year.

For those staying in Matsumoto during the New Year holidays, it can serve as a substitute for Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year). Please check the official website for opening hours.

This is a night festival where Matsumoto Castle in winter is entirely decorated with light and ice. Centered around projection mapping on the National Treasure castle tower, the entire castle town area, including Daimyo-machi Street and Chitose Bridge, is illuminated. Admission is free, and it's a highlight of winter that you can walk to from the accommodation for an evening stroll.

During the festival period (usually a weekend in late January), the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Ice Sculpture Festival" is also held, where works by ice sculptors from all over Japan and a giant ice slide line Matsumoto Castle Park. The schedule for the 2026-27 season will be confirmed on the official website closer to the date, so please check before your visit.

This is one of Nagano's leading craft festivals, bringing together approximately 260 artisans from across Japan. Handmade items such as woodworking, pottery, glass, and dyeing are displayed under the trees of Agata no Mori Park.

A weekend where you can experience "Matsumoto, the city of folk art and craftsmanship." The highlight is being able to talk directly with the artisans and choose items. The dates are usually in late May, but please check the official website closer to the time.

This is the summer festival of Matsumoto Shrine, located just north of Matsumoto Castle. During the Eve Festival on the 10th, fireworks are launched behind Matsumoto Castle (directly behind it), illuminating the summer night sky with the National Treasure castle tower in silhouette.

One of the few fireworks displays you can walk to from the accommodation. Food stalls are also present, so you can enjoy the festival itself. The dates are fixed annually on July 10 and 11, but the fireworks display may be decided at the last minute due to weather, so please check Matsumoto City's tourism information before your visit.

Groups from all over Japan play taiko drums with the National Treasure castle tower as a backdrop.

During the evening stage performances, the illuminated Matsumoto Castle serves as the backdrop. It's an event that doesn't require language, making it easy to recommend to international guests.

This is Matsumoto's biggest summer festival. Tens of thousands of people dance to the same choreography in the city streets, all to the same song called "Matsumoto Bon Bon."

Groups form lines in matching yukata and proceed, making it a spectacular sight even just to watch. The dance is a simple repetition, so you can join in by imitating it.

The venue stretches from the station front to the castle town. The festival comes to you, within walking distance from your accommodation.

This is a summer fireworks festival with approximately 3,000 fireworks launched along the Susukigawa River, which flows through Matsumoto city.

It's a fireworks display relatively close to Matsumoto's accommodations, and you can sit by the river and look up. The date is usually in early August, but please check the official website closer to the time.

This is an international music festival in Matsumoto at the end of summer, started by Seiji Ozawa. Orchestra performances and operas by the Saito Kinen Orchestra are held in Matsumoto city.

Tickets are required for each performance, and popular performances sell out quickly. Please check the official website for the program and ticket release dates.